Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend Donna Vekic hits back at Nick Kyrgios

Stanislas Wawrinka's tennis player girlfriend speaks out for first time since Australian player's sledge in Montreal referring to her

Cincinnati: Croatian tennis player Donna Vekic spoke publicly for the first time since Nick Kyrgios' infamous "banged your girlfriend" sledge, saying she hoped the controversial Australian would learn a lesson from the outrage.

Last week's incidentVekic (19) was the player Kyrgios was referring to when he jibed at his Swiss opponent Stanislas Wawrinka in a match last week in Montreal that another Australian player Thanasi "Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate." The court microphone caught Kyrgios' comments and the issue became global sports headlines the very next day.

Vekic has been quite since, but has eventually spoken out. "It's not easy, but I'm trying to focus on tennis and my next match," Vekic was quoted as saying by Canadian newspaper The Province on Tuesday.

When asked if she had spoken to Kyrgios, she said, "I don't know. I haven't spoken to Kyrgios. But it's a very disappointing thing to be happening in our sport and I hope it won't happen again because it's not a very good image for our sport." She said Kyrgios would learn from the incident. Kyrgios was fined $12,500 for the comment and was widely condemned.

Federer furiousRoger Federer, among several other leading players, criticised Kyrgios for his outburst. "We all agree that he definitely crossed the line by a long shot," Federer told the Cincinnati Enquirer.The Australian issued an apology after he was confronted by Wawrinka in the dressing sheds after the match.